Yemeni authorities blamed al Qaeda for an attack in which gunmen in military uniforms raided a police headquarters in the port city of Aden on Saturday, killing 11 people and freeing several detainees. Saturday's attack "bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda", Yemen's Supreme Security Committee said in a statement, adding that seven security officers, three women and a seven-year-old child died in the early-morning assault.

Firing automatic weapons and mortars, the gunmen managed to enter the intelligence police headquarters, surprising security forces there during a flag ceremony, a security official was quoted as saying by Reuters. "The high number of casualties was due to the fact that the attack came during the morning flag salute," the official said, adding that "some detainees" were freed by attackers.

There was a heavy exchange of gunfire for more than an hour. Police set up checkpoints across Aden after the attack.